Bolster center brace



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N www Filed July 5, 1942 F. G. GARLOCK ET AL BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Aug. 8, 1944.

F. G. GARLOCK ET AL BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Filed Jul;r 3, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug' 8, 1944- F. G. GARLocKm-AL 2,355,524

BOLSTER CENTER BRACE Filed July 3, 1942 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l i v Bons'rnacnurms'su rumor.A i I Frederick G. Garlock.' Chicago, lll., and John B.

' Mull, Gary, Ind., aslignors to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of New York Application July s, 1942, serial No. 449,577

9 claims. (Cl. 10s-22s) This invention relates to improvements in the underframes of railway1 cars, and particularly to that portion of the underframe in the region of the bolster center brace and rear draft lugs.

One of the objects of the invention is to eliminate the structural and assembling and disassembling disadvantages of the present cast steel and built-up types of bolster center brace and draft lug structures now in general use.

A further object is to reduce the cost and facilitate the assembling, and particularly the disassembling for the purposes of repairs, of the center brace and draft lug structures in relation to the center sill and body bolster of the car.

A further object is to provide a bolster center brace structure which is especially adaptable to the machine method of welding, both in the building up and assembly of its parts and in the assembly and disassembly of the unit with relation to the center sill and bolster of the car underframe.

These and other -objects of our invention are accomplished by the provision of a bolster center brace and draft lug structure which is built up by relatively small parts into a complete selfcontained unit apart from the underframe of the car, and which is assembled as a unit in relation to the center sill and body bolster of the car and likewise readily removed for repairs and replaced as a unit without disturbing or disassembling the center sill sections of the car underframe. The structure in which the invention is embodied is so arranged that the assembling not only of the parts of the bolster center brace and draft lul unit, but also the assembling of this structure in relation to the center sill and bolster, can be accomplished by machine welding operations carried on from outside, easily accessible positions.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a bolster center brace and draft lug unit in position relative to the center sill members and body bolster, the center sill members and body bolster being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the housing of the bolster center brace within which the parts are mounted which makeup the unitary structure;

the center sill and body bolster which involves l parts which are assembled within the center `ly so that the whole center sill involved lis in the brace housing; Fig. 8 being a side view and Fig. 9 being a face view of the center brace transverse tie member; Fig. 10 being. a perspective of one of the center brace vertical lugs; Figs. 11 and 1Z` being end and face views, respectively, of the -center pin holder braces; Fig. 13 being a Perspective of the center pin holder; Fig.'14 being a perspective of the center brace end tie member; and Figs. 15 and 16 being end and side views, respectively, of the horizontally disposed rear draft lugs.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a center sill A of the type which involves two rolled shapes of Z-'section having vertical webs I with their upper flanges 2 toed inwardly and joined together by welding, and with their lower, .heavier flanges -3 extending horizontally outwardform. of-an inverted channel of U-shape in sec. tion. This structure represents the type of center sill which is most commonly in use, but it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is adaptable to other types of center sill constructions in which a bolster center brace is used.

The body bolster is of the type which involves flanged diaphragms 4 spaced apart and extend# ing laterally from each side of the center sill and having top and bottom plates 5 and 6 which extend across the top and bottom, respectively, of the center sill and are secured to the flanges 4' of the bolster diaphragms by the series of rivets 1. Beneath the bottom plate 6 is a body. center plate 9 which is secured to the center sill bottom flanges 3 by means of the same rivets 8 which secure the bottom plate and the flanges of the bolster .diaphragms to the bottom flanges of the center sill: Two of these rivets 'i' in each of these series are provided for securing the body center plate to the center brace unit, Figs. 1 and 2, and holes 1'.' are' provided in the bottom wall l2 of the center brace housing. Fig. 4, for said rivets. 'I'he construction shown is for a riveted underframe, but it is to be understood in connection with welded underframe members that all or part of the rivets shown and described can be replaced by welds. The vertical portions of the bolster flanges l' which bear against webs I of the center sill members are secured thereto and to the center brace unit by the rivets 3, holes 8' being provided in the housing side walls I3 therefor. In the present, structure, the top plate 5 of the bolster is secured to the top flanges 2 oi' the center sill by the plug welds l0.

'I'he unitary bolster center brace and draft lug structure is positioned within the center sill at the bolster and serves to take the stresses imposed upon the center sill by the load on the bolster, and also to transfer the force of impact or bufling from the draft gear into the center sill. This center brace unit is made up of a housing B which is made to fit in the space between the webs of the center sill members and within which is assembled a. plurality of smaller parts fabricated, preferably by welding, to form a rigid structure. The housing, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, is generally U-shaped in section, having a bottom Wall I2 and vertical side walls I3. Preferably this housing or shell is made ofA a single plate pressed into form, but it is obvious that the housing could be made of several plates joined together by Welding and arranged in the form shown in the drawings. At one end, the side walls I3 extend beyond the end of the bottom wall and at their top are tied together by the transversely disposed end tie member Il. This end tie member is secured to the walls I3 by fillet-welding I5, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided primarily as a tie to hold the walls I3 against distortion during the assembling of the various parts of the structure and during handling of the unit before assembly of the unit within the center sill.

The upper margins of the side walls I3, for about half the length thereof, are turned inwardly horizontally and form flanges I 6 the ends of which are flush with the end margins of the side walls and bottom wall to provide bracing for the upper ends of the vertical members II which form the rear draft lugs into which the bufilng force is transmitted from the draft gear by the draft gear follower (not shown). These rear draft lugs are vertically disposed rectangular shaped plate members which bear against the ends of the side walls, bottom wall and flanges, and are secured to the edge of these they have outwardly projecting flanges 23 which are welded to the inner surface of the walls I3. In accordance with the general purpose of the invention to providefor readily accessible welding operations, the housing is provided with horizontal slots 24, so vthat the welding operation to secure the flanges 23 to the housing wall can l be carried out from the exterior of the unit, the

walls by welding around the margins thereof.

The outer vertical margins of these vertical lugs which coincide with the side walls I3 of the housing are provided with bevels forming grooves I 8 so as to expose the ends of the side walls I3 to the Welding metalv I9, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 10, and to provide a flush weld which does not project beyond the width of the unit housing to interfere with the insertion or removal of the unit from the center sill space. It will be noted that this welded joint is exterior to the housing and accessible for assembling the parts of the unit before it is positioned within the center sill. The bottom wall of the housing is cut away between the vertical lugs, as indicated at 20, Figs. 1 and 4, so as not to interfere with the working parts of the draft gear. The draft lug members are further braced and strengthened intermediate their height by means of longitudinally disposed lugs 22, Figs. 1, 3, 15 and 16, which are secured to the inner vertical walls I3 of the unit housing. These lugs are U-shaped in section and tapered rearwardly, and

welded joints 25 being indicated more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3.

Intermediate the ends of the housing are the transverse bracing tie members which are disposed in the space between the bolster diaphragms in such position that. they are almost in transverse alignment with the bolster diaphragms. These transverse tie members preferably consist of fiat rectangular plates 26, Figs. 1, 8, and 9, which have flanges 21 and and 23 on their vertical margins and on their bottom margin, respectively. These transverse bracing members are positioned so that the flanges project toward each other parallel with and in contact with the vertical and bottom walls of the unit housing. 'I'he transverse plates can be without flanges and with their edges abutted against the inner walls of the housing and welded thereto, but the welding operations would have to be carried on from the inside of the housing. The flanges are provided, therefore, so that they will bear against the housing walls and coincide with elongated slots 29 and 28' in the vertical and bottom walls, respectively, of the housing. Thus the operation of welding to secure the transverse tie members in place can be carriedout from the exterior of the housing.

The center pin holder 30 is positioned centrally between the side walls I3 of the housing and between the transverse tie members 26, and rises about half-way of the height of the housing. The center pin holder preferably consists of a section of pipe or tubing the lower end of which is inserted into a circular hole 3| (Figs. 2 and 4) in the bottom wall I2, and the end thereof welded with a fillet weld 32 to the margin of the hole. This center pin holder is held upright and rigidly braced by the V-shaped holder braces 33, which are welded thereto at 35 in the grooves or angles formed between the walls of the pin holder and the holder braces. The pin holder braces are also fillet-welded at 36 along their margins to the bottom wall of the housing. The vertical margins of these braces have flanges 3'I which bear against the flanges 21 of the transverse tie members 26 and are fillet-welded', as indicated at 38, to said flanges 2l. The pin holder braces serve to tie together and strengthen the entire center construction of the unit, including the bottom wall of the housing.

It will be noted that the welded joints for the most part are disposed in relatively long, straight lines and are formed from the exteriors of the structure, which makes the structure particularly adaptable to the machine method of welding. Those joints which assemble the parts Within the housing unit can all be completed before the unit is assembled in the underframe. Such joints as welds 35, 36, and 38, which are formed by hand welding methods, are all readily accessible through the open top of the housing before the unit is assembled in the underframe.

The entire bolster center brace and rear draft lug structure is assembled as a unit within the center sill and is welded in position through a series of elongated, straight-line welded joints 33 which are formed from the exterior of the center sill through the parallelly disposed slots 40 in the center sill members shown in Figs. l, 2, and 7. 'I'he removal of the unit for repairs can be accomplished without 'disassembling the center sill construction by removalof the welded joints;-

plate and vertical side plates forming a housing of U-shaped section, transverse brace plates between the side plates and spaced apart longitudinally and welded to the bottom and side plates through slots therein from the exterior of the housing, a tubular center pin holder positioned in the space between the side plates and between the transverse brace plates and welded at its lower end to the bottom plate, and brace means within. said space and welded to the center pin holder, the side plates of the housing and the transverse brace plates.

2. As an article of manufacture, a bolster center brace adapted `for insertion in and removal from the centerv sill asa unit, comprising a bottom plate and-vertical side plates forming va housing of U-shaped section, transverse brace plates between the side plates and spaced apart longitudinally and welded to the bottom and side plates through slots therein from the exterior of the housing, a tubular center pin'holder positioned in the space between the side plates and between the transverse brace plates and Welded at its lower end to the bottom plate, brace members within said space and welded to the centerl pin holder, the bottom and side plates of the housing and the transverse brace plates, inturned anges on the upper margins of said side plates extending to the end of the housing, and vertical plate members welded to the margins of the bottom plates, side plates and flanges, and forming draft lugs.

3. As an article of manufacture, a bolster center brace structure adapted for insertion into and removal from the center sill of a car underframe as a unit, comprising an integral housing of U-shaped section pressed to form from a single plate and having a bottom wall and upright side walls, said walls having transverse welding slots therein, transverse brace plates spaced apart having flanges opposite the slots and welded to said vertical and bottom walls from the exterior thereof, a tubular center pin holder welded at its lower end to the bottom wail of the housing, and V-shaped members welded to the wall of said tubular pin holder and-to the bottom wall of the housing, and extending to and Welded to the anges of said transverse brace members.

4. As an article of manufacture, a bolster center brace structure adapted for insertion into and removal from the center sill of a car underframe as a unit, comprising an integral housing of U-shaped section pressed to form from a single plate and having a bottom wall and upright side walls, said walls having transverse welding slots therein, transverse brace plates spaced apart having flanges opopsite the slots and welded to said vertical and bottom walls from the exterior thereof, a tubular center pin holder welded at its lower end to the bottom wall of the housing, V-shaped members -weided to the wall of said tubular pin holder and to the bottom wall of the housing, and extending to and welded to the flanges of said transverse brace members, vertical draft lugs welded to the end margins of the bottom and side walls of the housing, and integral tapered flanges formed at the upper margin of the side walls of the housing and welded at their ends to the upper ends of the vertical draft members.

5. As an article of manufacture, a bolster center brace structure adapted for insertion into and removal from the center sill of a car underframe as a unit, comprising an integral housing of U-shaped section pressed to form from a single plate and having a bottom wall and upright side walls, said walls having transverse welding slots therein, transverse brace plates spaced apart having flanges opposite the slots and welded to said vertical and bottom walls from the exterior thereof, a tubular center pin holder welded at its-lower end to the bottom wall of the housing, V-shaped members welded to the wall of said tubular pin holder and to the bottom wall of the housing, and extending to and welded to the flanges of said transverse brace members, vertical draft lugs welded to the :end margins of the bottom and side walls of the housing, integral tapered flanges formed at the upper margin of the side walls of the housingand welded at their ends to the upper ends of the vertical draft members, and horizontal brace membersof U- shaped section welded to the inner side walls of the housing and bearing against said draft members,

6. A pre-formed self-contained bolster center brace with rear draft lugs adapted to be inserted between the members of the center sill of a car underframe or to be removed therefrom as a unit, comprising a housing having side walls and a bottom wall arranged to form a U-section, the side walls being spaced apart substantially the width of the space between the center sill members, said center sill members having elongated slots, exposing the walls of the bolster center brace therethrough to provide for the welding of the bolster center brace to the center sill members from the exterior of said center sill meinbers, said housing containing Within itself spaced apart transverse brace plates having flanges paralleling walls of the housing and welded to the said walls of the housing from the exterior of the housing through slots in said housing walls, a tubular center pin holder welded to the bottom wall of the housing, diagonal brace plates welded to the tubular member and to the bottom and side walls of the housing, vertical plates forming draft lugs welded to the walls of the housing ai; one end thereof, and longitudinally disposed braces welded to the inner side walls of the housing through slots in said housing walls and bearing against said vertical draft lug plates. 7. A pre-formed self-contained bolster center brace with rear draft lugs adapted to be insertedl between the members of the center sillof a car underframe or to be removed therefrom as aunit, comprising a housing having side walls and a bottom wall 'arranged to form a U-section, the side walls being spaced apart substantially the width of .the space between the center sill members, said center sill members having elongated slots, exposing the walls of the bolster center brace therethrough to provide for the welding of the bolster center brace to the center sill members from the exterior o! said center sill members, said housing containing within itself spaced apart transverse brace plates having nanges paralleling walls oi' the housing and welded to the said walls of the housing from the exterior of the housing through slots in said housing walls, a tubular center pin holder welded to the bottom wall of the housing, diagonal brace plates welded to the tubular member and to the bottom and side walls of the housing, vertical plates forming draft lugs welded to the walls of the housing at one end thereof, longitudinally disposed braces welded to the inner side walls of the housing through slots in said housing walls and bearing against said vertical draft lug plates, inturned tapered iianges on the upper margins of said housing side walls having their ends welded to said vertical draft lug plates, and a transverse tie member at the end of the housing opposite the draft lug plates and welded adjacent the upper margins of the housing side walls.

8. As an article of manufacture, a bolster center brace adapted for insertion in and removal from the center sill as a unit, comprising a bottom plate and vertical side plates forming a housing of U-shaped section and having welding exterior through said welding slots, a center pin holder positioned in the space between the side plates and between the transverse brace plates and welded to the bottom plate, and brace means within said space welded to the center pin holder, the side plates of the housing and the transverse brace plates.

9. As an article of manufacture, a bolster center brace structure adapted for insertion into and removal from the center sill of the car undertrame as a unit, comprising an integral housing of U-shaped section pressed to form from a single plate and having abottom wall and upright sidey walls, said walls having welding openings therein, transverse brace plates spaced apart and positioned opposite the openings and welded to said vertical and bottom walls from the exterior thereof. a center pin holder welded to the bottom wall of the housing, and V-shaped members welded to the wall of said center pin holder and to the bottom wall of the housing and welded to the transverse brace members.

FREDERICK G. GARLOCK. JOHN R. MULL. 

